That recommendation actually finds its genesis in what goes on in privacy right now. You're looking at the Privacy Act. You know about privacy impact assessments. It's also a recommendation from former Justice La Forest in his report on access to information. It's a recommendation from the Delagrave report.
The idea here is that before government begins a new program or new initiative, or develops a new database or new care system, they would consult with the commissioner, who would advise--advise--on accessibility. What are some of the needs of requesters in terms of when you produce whatever you're going to produce from the program? How are you going to more efficiently retrieve it or structure it so that it is retrievable? That's all it is.
When the minister says it's a departure from usual practice and wasn't sure in his testimony.... PIAs--private impact assessments--have been going on for several years. It's a policy of Treasury Board; it's not required by law. In other jurisdictions it is required by law. It's simply coming to the commissioner, without prejudice to future investigations, and getting the best advice in terms of how the system could be made to improve access for those who want to have information. That's all it is.
In terms of Monsieur Drapeau, he seems to believe that it might interfere with my investigations. We have to be bicephalous from time to time and look at policy issues and deal with the investigations as well.